The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-30
AUNT HANNAH'S WAY,
A THANKSGIVING SKETCH.

A THANKSGIVING SKETCH.
"What is Jane doing now?" asked Mrs.
Harding, looking up from the pie-crust
she was crimping.
laughing" replied Aunt Hannah,
eurtly, "and she always is laughing now.
adays. What does make that girl laugh
% much?"
81 hadn't noticed it" said Mrs. Hard
ing: lin fact, have been so busy lately
haven't had time to notice. But I'm
glad if she is any happier. A week OF
two ago she seemed very sad, and found
her a number of times just at nightfall
standing out under the willow trees near
the water-drain, crying"
Just then Samantha Heath, the hired
girl, gave queer little cry, half between
. cough and a sneeze, and as Mrs. Hard
ing turned around, she caught her maid.
of-all-wcrk with an unmistakable grin on
her broad face.
"Well, Samantha" she questioned,
rather sharply, didn't I remark to you
ut the time about James low spirits"
"Yes'm," replied Samantha, with the
corners of her mouth drawing up, and
the corners of her eyes drawing down, as
she kept on chopping her mince- pie
meat.
"Well, then2'
"0h nothing said Samantha, "only
Jane is mostly merry or sad, as the old
song goes, according to the mood of the
girl in the story she is reading. The one
now is girl with very red lips and white
teeth. It seems to suit Jane, for her lips
are amazing red, and her teeth are as
white as dogs teeth. Of course she
overdoes it, but that is natural, I sup
pose"
Mrs. Harding looked at Samantha with
ominous little red spots showing them
selves on her yet fair face.
"Do you mean to tell me that my only
daughter is 80 simple"
"Nothing simple about it, I'm sure,'
interrupted the hired girl. "It's the
fact. Jane tells me about it every day
when 1 60 up to do the chamber work
the girl must have something to occupy
her mind, and she don't have any work
to do"
;'That's just it," said Aunt Hannah,
interrupting in her turn, "just the secret.
She don't have anything to do, and the
girls ought to be busy. Now she might
Just as well be chopping that mincc-meat,
or pairing those apples, or crimping those
pies, as any one else"
"Jane never has been very we'll, you
know, Aunt Hannah"
"She has always been made to think
she wasn't" replied Aunt Hannah.
"What Jane needs now is exercise. If
she was romp, could stand it; but for
= great, tall, healthy and hearty girl like
her to sit in her chamber hour after hour,
and rock and read novels"
"Susette' in the Sweet Swans OF
Savoy always sat in her chamber" said
Samatha; "and most all the story-book
girls do. They always 'go to their own
rooms.'"
"They'd 60 to the kitchen were they
my girls, " muttered Aunt Hannah.
II am sure Janey is not in her room
uow," said Mrs. Harding triumphantly.
"You just said she was laughing
tNo; of course she was not in her
room then," replied Samantha. "The
girl in the last book she got from the
library goes out and takes quiet walk
With happy smile on her lips "
Good Mrs. Harding was really angry
now. The red spots on her cheeks deep
ened to carmiue, as Jane came slowly
and steadily up the walk, with book in
her hand.
"Look at that girls stilted, unnatural
walk" exclaimed Aunt Hannah. "At
her age she ought to come with a skip
and jump, as unconcious of her feet as
bird is of its wings. What book have
youethere, Jane2 Let me see, it please, v
went on Aunt Hannah. as the young gir
entered the large, neat kitchen.
Jane unwillingly handed it over, with
4 sickly smile.
Humph!" said Aunt Hannah
isWhere are you going, deara"
'sTo my room" replied Jane, with s
smile broader and sicklier than the frs
one, "when you are through with m!
book" and she leaned her shoulde
languidly against the door, clasped he
slim, white hands in front of her, ant
looked through the window away to tn
russet hills, with smile that showed he
white, even teeth, still resting upon he
face.
Aunt Hannah and Samantha exchanged
glances and smiles. Mrs. Harding saw
It, aud said, in peremptory tone:
"Jane, go up stairs, braid up you
hair, take off that ridiculous bow from
the top of your head, put on your every
dav boots and an apron. and then conn
down into the kitchen and wash up tn
baking dishes" :.
Jane slowly turned around, gave he
fond mother most withering look
which was copied as nearly as poss,ol
from a character in the story she nat
read a few days before, and returned, Il
scornful tone:
"Wash the baking dishes! Nc! Wh.
cannot Samantha do it2 I never WASHED
baking dishes in my life"
"Time you had,' said Aunt Hannah
who had tucked the book under he
.pron and gone on with her applc-parins
Ins, - hn. I'm